What STC Group does

STC Group is a private Dutch educational institution headquartered in Rotterdam and operating five physical campuses (Rotterdam-Lloydstraat, Rotterdam-Waalhaven, Rotterdam-Anthony Fokkerweg, Brielle, Katwijk aan Zee) plus a satellite at Deltion College in Zwolle. Founded in 1990, it is the largest education provider in the Netherlands for shipping, transport, and logistics, serving 4,000+ students and 500+ VMBO learners with 800+ staff. The institution delivers a full educational pathway from VMBO (Maritiem en Techniek profile) through MBO levels 1–4 and historically through HBO/Master programs (now partly transferred to partner institutions), plus adult reskilling via STC Next.

Its core technology is simulator-based training: full-mission bridge simulators for sea navigation, inland waterways, and dredging; engine-room simulators; a specialized fishing simulator at Katwijk; and the Ab Initio inland shipping training vessel launched in September 2022. Specialized facilities include the Green Technology Campus at Brielle for hydrogen, renewable energy, and wind turbine maintenance training. Curriculum is co-designed with industry through formal bodies (Bedrijfstakcommissies, Raad van Advies) populated by senior executives from Havenbedrijf Rotterdam, Vopak, Damen, Deltalinqs, Anthony Veder, the Royal Netherlands Navy, and others.

STC's revenue model combines Dutch publicly-regulated VMBO/MBO funding (government-set BOL tuition of €1,458/year and BBL fees of €303–€735/year for 18+ students, with under-18 exemptions) with employer-paid BBL arrangements, BPV internship partnerships, STC Next adult-education subscriptions (e.g., post-HBO Supply Chain Manager), and commercial training/consultancy services. The institution supplements operating revenue with non-dilutive funding from the EU Just Transition Fund, Interreg VI Vlaanderen-Nederland, MRDH, RegioDeal Zuid-Hollandse Delta, and Stichting De Verre Bergen. Customer segments are horizontal: VMBO/MBO students, working adults via STC Next, and B2B employers across shipping, ports, logistics, process industry, road transport, rail, and aviation. Distribution is direct-to-consumer via open days, school-counselor outreach, digital enrollment (CAMBO with DigiD for MBO, Leerlinq for VMBO), and physical campuses.

Name

STC Group

Legal name

STC Group

Website

https://stc.nl

Company type

Private

Founded year

1990

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

501–1,000 employees

Short description

STC Group is the largest Dutch vocational education provider for shipping, transport, and logistics, operating five campuses in the Rotterdam port region and serving 4,000+ VMBO/MBO students plus working adults via STC Next reskilling programs.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Maritime and Transport Vocational Education

NAICS

Technical and Trade Schools (61151), Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (61131)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Maritime Safety, Security & Compliance (STCW/ISM/ISPS) (EDAOANAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Navigation, Seamanship & Offshore Operations (EDAOANAE), Supply Chain, Logistics & Procurement Certifications (EDAAANAK), Safety, Compliance & Regulatory (OSHA/HSE/GxP) Certifications (EDAAANAJ), Operations, Supply Chain & Logistics Management Schools (EDAHAHAF)

Keywords

• Maritime vocational education
• Shipping training programs
• Port logistics education
• Process technology training
• Transport and logistics courses

Headquarters

HQ city

Utrecht

HQ country

Netherlands

HQ region

Europe

Offices9 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. MBO Tuition - BOL (vocational education with internship): BOL students aged 18+ pay tuition fees set by the Dutch government. For school year 2025/2026, tuition is €1,458 per year. Students under 18 are exempt from tuition.
2. MBO Tuition - BBL (work-based learning): BBL students aged 18+ pay reduced course fees set by the government. Level 1-2 programs: €303/year; Level 3-4 programs: €735/year (2025-2026). Students under 18 are exempt.
3. Training and Consultancy Services: STC provides training programs and consultancy services to businesses in the Netherlands and internationally, leveraging its maritime, transport, and logistics expertise.
4. STC Next Adult Education: Reskilling, upskilling, and continuing education programs for adults and professionals, including post-hbo programs such as Supply Chain Manager.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

STC Group is the largest education provider in the Netherlands for shipping, transport, and logistics, offering vocational and higher education programs from secondary vmbo through master's level across five thematic areas: Shipping & Technology, Process Technology & Maintenance, Transport, Logistics, and International Port. The institution delivers simulator-based training (bridge, engine room, fishing simulators), operates the Ab Initio training vessel, and runs specialized facilities like the Green Technology Campus. Programs are offered at six campus locations in the Netherlands, with adult/professional continuing education delivered through the STC Next brand.

Product overview

STC Group is an educational institution — not a software product — providing vocational and higher education across four levels: VMBO (secondary vocational), MBO (intermediate vocational, levels 1–4), HBO (higher vocational/bachelor), and Master. Programs are organized around five thematic 'worlds': Scheepvaart & Techniek (Shipping & Technology), Procestechniek & Onderhoud (Process Technology & Maintenance), Transport & Vervoer (Transport), Logistiek (Logistics), and Internationale Haven (International Port). STC Next serves adults and professionals with reskilling and short courses. The institution operates multiple physical campuses (Rotterdam–Lloydstraat, Rotterdam–Waalhaven, Rotterdam–Anthony Fokkerweg, Brielle, Katwijk, Zwolle) and runs specialized initiatives including the Ab Initio training vessel, Green Technology Campus, and Human Capital Coalitie Energietransitie (HCCE). Former sub-brands MLU (Maritime & Logistics University of Applied Sciences) and NMU (Netherlands Maritime University) have been largely transferred to partner institutions. Key projects include Blue Careers, Maritiem TechPlatform, SkillSea, and Magazijnhelden van Morgen.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• VMBO (Voorbereidend Middelbaar Beroepsonderwijs) Pre-vocational secondary education (vmbo) at two Rotterdam locations (Lloydstraat and Anthony Fokkerweg) offering the Maritiem en Techniek (Maritime and Technical) profile — the only school in Rotterdam offering this profile. Prepares students aged 12-16 for further mbo studies or direct employment in shipping, transport, logistics, and process industries. Includes support for LWOO and dyslexia.
• MBO (Middelbaar Beroepsonderwijs) Intermediate vocational education (mbo) at levels 1-4 available as BOL (school-based with internship) or BBL (work-based learning). Programs span five worlds: Scheepvaart & techniek (Shipping & Technology), Procestechniek & onderhoud (Process Technology & Maintenance), Transport & vervoer (Transport), Logistiek (Logistics), and Internationale haven (International Port). Delivered at locations in Rotterdam, Brielle, Katwijk aan Zee, and Zwolle. Includes a Career Start Guarantee (Carrière Start Garantie) in process technology.
• HBO & Master Programs Higher vocational and master programs in shipping, shipbuilding, ports, and logistics, including the Maritime & Logistics University of Applied Sciences (MLU) and Netherlands Maritime University (NMU) offerings. The Master Shipping & Transport program was transferred to Rotterdam Mainport Institute of applied sciences in 2021-2022.
• STC Next (Adult and Professional Education) Continuing education, reskilling, and upskilling programs for adults and professionals, including post-hbo programs (e.g., Supply Chain Manager), short courses, and conversion programs such as Schipper Machinist Beperkt Vaargebied (Skipper Engineer Restricted Navigation Area) and hydrogen technology training. Programs are available online or in blended format.
• Corporate Training and Consultancy Services Training programs and consultancy services delivered to businesses in the Netherlands and internationally, leveraging STC's maritime, transport, logistics, and process technology expertise. Offered through the dedicated 'Voor bedrijven' (For companies) channel on stc.nl.

Quantifiable outcome

• Carrière Start Garantie: guaranteed internship placement and first job in the process technology sector for Allround Operationeel Technicus students
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature6 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Human Capital Coalitie Energietransitie (HCCE) partnerscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023Since 2023, Deltalinqs, Havenbedrijf Rotterdam, Gemeente Rotterdam, Hogeschool Rotterdam, Techniek College Rotterdam, and STC have joined forces within the HCCE, along with partners such as EUR, TUD, TNO, and Provincie Zuid-Holland. The coalition works on future-proof labor and education supply to ensure sufficient skilled workers for the energy transition in the Rotterdam port and industrial complex. HCCE is co-financed by the European Union (JTF) and public-private funds. STC is an active partner involved in multiple projects including the image campaign Werkeninderotterdamsehaven.nl, Inclusieve Haven, Leven Lang Ontwikkelen (LLO), Port of Energy, and the Energietransitie en Circulaire Campus.
• Gemeente Voorne aan ZeecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSTC, Gemeente Voorne aan Zee, and Deltalinqs partnered to establish the Green Technology Campus at STC's Brielle location. The campus addresses the human capital challenge in the Haven Industrieel Complex (HIC) by training people in sustainable energy knowledge and skills. The initiative is co-funded by MRDH and RegioDeal Zuid-Hollandse Delta.
• NHL StendenminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThrough NHL Stenden, students can pursue a two-year Associate Degree in Maritime Technology. This allows STC to offer an extended pathway in maritime education through a partner institution.
• Deltion College (Zwolle)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSTC Hanze Maritiem is a collaboration between STC and Deltion College in Zwolle. Mbo sea navigation programs are offered on the Deltion College campus, with facilities including a bridge simulator, technical workshop, and maritime communications room.
• Maritime suppliers and industry partners (Ab Initio project)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Ab Initio project brought together various maritime suppliers to create a state-of-the-art training vessel combining the latest technologies and insights from the Dutch maritime sector.
• Koninklijke Marine (Royal Netherlands Navy)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSTC collaborates with the Koninklijke Marine for the Marine Technicus route. Students complete years 1-2 at STC, then continue at the Marine Technische Opleidingsschool (KMTO) in Den Helder for years 3-4.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Rotterdam Mainport Institute of Applied Sciences: Took over STC's Master Shipping & Transport program in 2021-2022 and is the natural higher-education successor for the Rotterdam port region. Directly comparable as a Rotterdam-based applied sciences institution with maritime and logistics programs.
• Deltion College: Joint venture partner for STC Hanze Maritiem in Zwolle (delivering STC mbo sea navigation programs on Deltion's campus). Comparable Dutch mbo college with technical and maritime vocational offerings and shared BPV placement infrastructure.
• Techniek College Rotterdam: Core HCCE coalition partner and Rotterdam-based technical mbo institution. Directly comparable as a Dutch vocational college with technical, process and logistics programs targeting the same Rotterdam port employer base.

Others

• World Maritime University (WMU): IMO-founded maritime university in Malmö, Sweden, focused on maritime education, research and capacity building. Comparable as a globally oriented maritime educator and European knowledge project peer (joint participant in SkillsSea).

Broad incumbents

• Hogeschool Rotterdam: HBO partner in HCCE and Rotterdam-based applied sciences university with broad technical and maritime-adjacent programs. Comparable as a higher-tier Rotterdam educational institution with overlapping employer relationships, though broader in scope than STC's maritime specialization.
• NHL Stenden University of Applied Sciences: Partner offering an Associate Degree in Maritime Technology that extends STC's HBO pathway. Comparable as a Dutch applied sciences institution with maritime programs and broader northern Netherlands footprint.
• TU Delft (Faculty of Maritime & Transport Engineering): Top-tier Dutch technical university with maritime and transport engineering programs and HCCE partner. Comparable as a Dutch maritime educator, but at research university tier with different cost structure and credential range.

Emerging players

• MARIN (Maritime Research Institute Netherlands): Dutch maritime R&D organization with training and simulation capabilities. Comparable in the maritime simulation and training ecosystem, though primarily research-oriented rather than credential-granting.
• KLM Flight Academy: Dutch aviation training institution. Comparable as a specialized Netherlands-based vocational training provider with simulator-based instruction and airline industry employer partnerships, though focused on aviation rather than maritime.

Regional players

• Da Vinci College (Dordrecht): Dutch regional mbo college with technical and maritime-related vocational programs in the Randstad. Comparable as a Dutch vocational education peer in adjacent regions, but without STC's port-centric specialization.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/school

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles14 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about STC Group